DETAILED CORRESPONDENCE
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed 01/29/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-4 and 7-13 remain pending in the application.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, a nozzle, as required by claim1, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4 and 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Toraason (US 5242033 A).
Regarding claim 1, Toraason discloses a gearwheel arrangement (see Fig. 1-3), comprising: a gearwheel (14) configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (rotation axis of 14), the gearwheel comprising a gearwheel body (body of 14) and an annular gear tooth section (section comprising 14a and 26) extending around the gearwheel body, the gear tooth section comprising a plurality of external gear teeth (14a), wherein the gear tooth section includes an annular flange (26) formed integrally with the gearwheel (see column 4 lines 13-15, wherein the guide lip 26 is an annulus that may be integrally formed with the gear) and delimiting at least one radially inwardly facing surface (radially inward surface of 26a) in an axial direction (via 26b), wherein at least a part of the gear tooth section extends past a radially outer portion of the gearwheel body in an axial direction of the gearwheel (see Fig. 1, 26 extends past a radially outer portion of 14 in the axial direction of 14), so that the at least one radially inwardly facing surface is provided opposite of the external gear teeth (see Fig. 2 and 3, wherein the radially inward surface of 26a is provide on the left side of the gear tooth section, and the external gear teeth 14a are provided on the right side of the gear tooth section, i.e., provided on opposite sides) for guiding a cooling fluid toward the at least one radially inwardly facing surface so as to cool the gear tooth section during rotation of the gearwheel about the axis of rotation (see column 3 lines 53-56, wherein the present invention uses basic heat transfer principles to remove heat from the area of the gear teeth by circulating a coolant, such as lubricating oil through passages provided in the area of the teeth), wherein the annular flange controls a flow of the cooling fluid and prevents the cooling fluid from flowing off the at least one radially inwardly facing surface in an uncontrolled way (see column 4 lines 9-13, wherein a fundamental aspect of the present invention is that no fluid introduced for cooling purposes should be splattered loose in the gear box, and thus, the system 10 according to the present invention includes a guide lip 26 connected to one side of the gear 14), wherein the means for guiding the cooling fluid toward the at least one radially inwardly facing surface comprises a conduit (38b) having an outlet (see annotated Fig. 3 below, outlet A) via which the cooling fluid may be provided to the at least one radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the conduit is arranged separately from the gearwheel (see Fig. 1, wherein 38b is arranged separately from 14), wherein the outlet comprises a nozzle (see annotated Fig. 3 below, nozzle B) provided radially inside of the at least one radially inwardly facing surface (see annotated Fig. 3 below, wherein nozzle B is provided radially inside of the radially inward surface of 26a), and wherein the annular gear tooth section of the gearwheel arrangement does not comprise any conduit or bore (see Fig. 1-3, wherein the section comprising 14a does not comprise any conduit or bore; note that passages 22 are formed in the body of 14 and not the section comprising 14a and 26).
Regarding claim 2, Toraason discloses the at least one radially inwardly facing surface (surface A) comprises a first annular surface (see annotated Fig. 3 below, right side of surface A) extending between a first side surface of the gear tooth section (left side surface of the section comprising 14a) and a first side surface of the gearwheel body (left side surface of 14).
Regarding claim 3, Toraason discloses the at least one radially inwardly facing surface further comprises a second annular surface (see annotated Fig. 3 below, surface B) extending between a second side surface of the gear tooth section (right side surface of the section comprising 14a) and a second side surface of the gearwheel body (right side surface of 14), the first and the second annular surfaces being formed on axially opposite sides of the radially outer portion of the gearwheel body (see Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 4, Toraason discloses the at least one radially inwardly facing surface (surface A) forms part of at least one annular groove (see annotated Fig. 3 below, wherein the left side of surface A forms a groove) extending around the axis of rotation (rotation axis of 14).
Regarding claim 7, Toraason discloses the means (34, 36, 38a, 38, 38b, 24) for guiding the cooling fluid further comprises a pump (38) for providing the cooling fluid to the outlet (see Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 8, Toraason discloses a transmission (see Fig. 1) for a vehicle (see column 1 line 53, wherein an aircraft is disclosed), the transmission comprising a shaft (20) extending in the axial direction and the gearwheel arrangement according to claim 1 (see rejection of claim 1 above), the gearwheel of the gearwheel arrangement being provided on the shaft (see Fig. 1)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 9-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Connolly (US 9828924 B1) in view of Toraason (US 5242033 A).
Regarding claim 9, Connolly discloses a powertrain of a vehicle (see Fig. 1, 10). Connolly fails to disclose the transmission according to claim 8. However, Toraason teaches the transmission according to claim 8 (see rejection of claim 8 above). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art as of the effective filing date to modify Connolly with the transmission of claim 8, as taught by Toraason, to provide a high speed gear cooling system in which a separate flow circuit is provided for removal of heat, separate and apart from lubrication systems; to provide a high speed gear cooling system which minimizes splatter and lubricant impingement inside the gear box; and the present invention is to provide a high speed gear cooling system capable of scavenging all or nearly all of the cooling fluid that is introduced into the gear box (see column 2 lines 36-46).
Regarding claim 10, Toraason discloses at least one electric machine (26) configured for propulsion of the vehicle (see Fig. 1), and/or at least one other propulsion unit configured to be operated at a rotational speed to recover heat from exhaust.
Regarding claim 11, Connolly discloses a vehicle (see Fig. 1), a transmission (32) comprising a shaft (34) extending in the axial direction, and a powertrain (10) comprising at least one electric machine (26) configured for propulsion of the vehicle (see Fig. 1), and/or at least one other propulsion unit configured to be operated at a rotational speed. Connolly fails to disclose the gearwheel arrangement according to claim 1. However, Toraason teaches the gearwheel arrangement according to claim 1 (see rejection of claim 8 above). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art as of the effective filing date to modify Connolly with the transmission of claim 8, as taught by Toraason, to provide a high speed gear cooling system in which a separate flow circuit is provided for removal of heat, separate and apart from lubrication systems; to provide a high speed gear cooling system which minimizes splatter and lubricant impingement inside the gear box; and the present invention is to provide a high speed gear cooling system capable of scavenging all or nearly all of the cooling fluid that is introduced into the gear box (see column 2 lines 36-46).
Regarding claim 12, Connolly discloses a powertrain of a vehicle (10). Connolly fails to disclose the gearwheel arrangement according to claim 1. However, Toraason teaches the gearwheel arrangement according to claim 1 (see rejection of claim 8 above). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art as of the effective filing date to modify Connolly with the transmission of claim 8, as taught by Toraason, to provide a high speed gear cooling system in which a separate flow circuit is provided for removal of heat, separate and apart from lubrication systems; to provide a high speed gear cooling system which minimizes splatter and lubricant impingement inside the gear box; and the present invention is to provide a high speed gear cooling system capable of scavenging all or nearly all of the cooling fluid that is introduced into the gear box (see column 2 lines 36-46).
Regarding claim 13, Connolly discloses at least one electric machine (26) configured for propulsion of the vehicle (see Fig. 1), and/or at least one other propulsion unit configured to be operated at a rotational speed to recover heat from exhaust.
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1 - Toraason (US 5242033 A) Fig. 3 Annotated
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 01/29/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Examiner notes that while the same prior art is relied upon, the rejection of claim 1 cites different portions of the prior art, which was necessitated by the amendment.
Regarding Applicant’s argument that Toraason fails to disclose “the at least one radially inwardly facing surface is provided opposite of the external gear teeth”, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. First, the Examiner notes that MPEP 2111.01(III) states “In the absence of an express intent to impart a novel meaning to the claim terms, the words are presumed to take on the ordinary and customary meanings attributed to them by those of ordinary skill in the art…[T]he ordinary and customary meaning of a claim term is the meaning that the term would have to a person of ordinary skill in the art in question at the time of the invention.” In this instance, the specification fails to set forth any special definition of the claim term “opposite”, and must be given its ordinary and customary meaning. Merriam-Webster defines opposite as “on or to an opposite side”. Second, the Examiner notes that claim 1 reads “an annular tooth section…the gear tooth section comprising a plurality of external teeth, wherein the gear tooth section includes an annular flange. As can be seen in the rejection above and in Fig. 2-3 of Toraason, the annular tooth section comprises the portion of 14 comprising teeth 14a, i.e., the portion of 14 above the dashed line in Fig. 3, and the flange 26. The flange 26 comprises the inwardly facing surface of 26a. The portion of 14 comprising teeth 14a is shown on the right side of the gear tooth section, and the inwardly facing surface of 26a is shown on the left side of the gear tooth section. In other words, the inwardly facing surface of 26a is opposite the external gear teeth. Therefore, Toraason discloses “the at least one radially inwardly facing surface is provided opposite of the external gear teeth”.
Regarding Applicant’s argument that Toraason fails to disclose “the outlet comprises a nozzle provided radially inside of the at least one radially inwardly facing surface”, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. As can be seen from the rejection of claim1 above, Fig. 1 and annotated Fig. 3 of Toraason, a conduit 38b is shown. At the end of the conduit, an outlet B is disclosed and a nozzle B. The nozzle B is provided radially inside of the radially inward facing surface of 26a. Therefore, Toraason discloses “the outlet comprises a nozzle provided radially inside of the at least one radially inwardly facing surface”. The Examiner notes that Applicant’s own drawings do not show a nozzle. Applicant’s Fig. 2 shows conduit 20 and outlet 21 at the end of the conduit. If Applicant wishes for “a nozzle” to be included in the claims, it must be shown in the drawings.
Regarding Applicant’s argument that Toraason fails to disclose “the annular gear tooth section of the gearwheel arrangement does not comprise an conduit or bore”, the Examiner respectfully disagrees. As can be seen in the rejection of claim 1 above, Fig. 2 and annotated Fig. 3 of Toraason, the annular tooth section comprises the portion of 14 comprising teeth 14a, i.e., the portion of 14 above the dashed line in Fig. 3, and the flange 26. There are no conduits or bores in the annular tooth section. The Examiner notes that in Fig. 2, the passages 22 are provided in the gearwheel body, and not in the annular tooth section. Therefore, Toraason discloses “the annular gear tooth section of the gearwheel arrangement does not comprise an conduit or bore”.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH BROWN whose telephone number is (313)446-6568. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs: 8:00am - 5:00pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Minnah Seoh can be reached at 571-357-2384. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSEPH BROWN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618